ISE, Japan. Deep in the forests of central Japan, a centuries-old tradition continues as Shinto priests and woodsmen harvest ancient cypress trees in preparation for the reconstruction of Ise Jingu, the country’s most sacred Shinto shrine.
For more than 1,300 years, the shrine has been torn down and rebuilt every 20 years, a ritual known as Shikinen Sengu. The process, now entering its 63rd cycle, began earlier this year and will culminate in 2033 with a sacred ceremony transferring the enshrined deity to the newly completed structure.
The rebuilding, estimated at $390 million and spanning nine years, involves the painstaking work of Japan’s most skilled carpenters, woodcutters, and artisans. All 125 shrine buildings, along with over 1,500 ritual objects and garments, are recreated using traditional methods passed down through generations.
At the heart of Ise is the Inner Shrine, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, who has been worshipped there for two millennia. The shrine’s impermanence reflects Shinto’s emphasis on renewal and continuity.
“After 20 years, the shrine we are building will have deteriorated quite a bit. But instead of thinking, ‘It’s a shame to tear down something we worked so hard to build,’ we think, ‘It’s been 20 years, so we want the deity to move into a beautiful, fresh, new shrine,’” said Shinto priest Yosuke Kawanishi, whose family has long crafted miniature replicas of Ise.
The reconstruction has only been interrupted twice in history: during Japan’s civil wars in the 15th and 16th centuries, and after World War II. Despite these breaks, the cycle has endured as a defining tradition of Japanese spirituality and craftsmanship.
The ceremonies draw thousands of pilgrims and are part of a larger flow of about 7 million annual visitors to Ise. Observers often describe the rituals as deeply moving, connecting them with centuries of spiritual and cultural continuity.
“You can count with one hand the number of times you’ll witness something like this in your lifetime, so I really felt it was a rare and precious sight,” said visitor Yuto Nakase.
Even the felling of trees carries spiritual meaning. Woodsmen chant prayers and insert the tip of a cut tree into the stump of another, symbolizing regeneration. “You take a moment to appreciate that trees are living beings and engrave that feeling into your heart,” said Soju Ikeda, a lumber expert who manages traditional tree-felling practices.
Artisans at Ise spend decades preparing materials such as cypress and thatching reeds for future reconstructions, with cultivation often spanning longer than a human lifespan.
As night falls, priests perform purification rituals by lantern light, culminating in the consecration of sacred pillars beneath the shrine’s main sanctuary. Visitors describe the atmosphere as mysterious and transformative.
“It doesn’t say much, doesn’t show much and doesn’t offer much explanation. It’s something you feel,” said Kawanishi.
For many, the tradition embodies both fragility and endurance, a spiritual cycle that has withstood the tests of history and continues to shape Japan’s cultural identity.
